Air passenger traffic continued its recovery trajectory in August, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. IATA is the global representative body of the airline industry. In year-on-year (y-on-y) terms, total air passenger traffic in August was up 67.7%. This meant that it reached 73.7% of the levels recorded before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The best performing region, in terms of total air passenger traffic, was the Asia-Pacific, with a y-on-y climb of 141.6%. The Middle East came next, with an increase of 135.5%, then Africa (69.6%), Europe (59.6%), Latin America (55%) and North America (29.6%).

International air passenger traffic jumped 115.6%, y-on-y, with by far the strongest result again coming from the Asia-Pacific (449.2%). Second place was again taken by Middle East airlines, with a jump of 144.9%, followed by North America (110.4%), Latin America (102.5%), Europe (78,8%) and Africa (69.5%). International traffic in August was 67.4% of its pre-Covid (August 2019) levels.

Total domestic air passenger traffic rose 26.5% y-on-y. This represented 85.4% of its pre-pandemic level. The key domestic markets tracked by IATA were Australia, Brazil, China, India, Japan and the US. In y-on-y terms, in August, Australia demonstrated, by far and away, the strongest growth, at 449%. Japan came next, with 112.3%, followed by India (55.9%), China (45.1%), Brazil (25.7%) and then the US (7%). (In the case of the US, IATA noted that further recovery was hampered by supply constraints.)

“The northern hemisphere peak summer travel season finished on a high note,” affirmed IATA director-general Willie Walsh. “Considering the prevailing economic uncertainties, travel demand is progressing well. And the removal or easing of travel restrictions at some key Asian destinations, including Japan, will certainly accelerate the recovery in Asia. The mainland of China is the last major market retaining severe Covid-19 entry restrictions.”

IATA also pointed out that the first week of October marked one year since its annual general meeting had endorsed the objective of achieving net-zero carbon commercial aviation by 2050. “Aviation is committed to decarbonising by 2050, in line with the Paris agreement,” he highlighted. “And the energy transition required to achieve this must be supported by government policies.”